Our Summertime Blues

As unemployment grows, partisanship deepens, and war lingers on, things certainly don't look as hopeful as they did 20 months ago when Barack Obama took office. But there's still hope. We just need to remember where to look for it....

Who's That Girl?

In a moment reminiscent of the funerals of Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy Jr., the world paused on Tuesday to mourn the loss of "the King of Pop," Michael Jackson. After the parade of stars crossed the stage at...

Recession Depression

As the recession continues to devastate our economy, one of the few professions benefiting from the downturn is the mental health industry. This sad irony is highlighted by media reports of suicides related to people's financial situations. One Johns Hopkins...

Green in the 'Hood

Is it possible to create a new economy in the 'hood that would create jobs, lower energy costs, reduce the carbon footprint of an urban neighborhood, and allow neighbors to get to know one another at the same time? I...

The Redistribution Question

With our economy in a shambles, the nation is looking to President-elect Barack Obama and his team of financial advisers to reverse the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Obama has proposed an $800-billion stimulus package that is unprecedented...

When God Closes a Door ...

For weeks, I have dreaded Fridays at the Chicago Tribune. Friday was the day that folks got tapped on the shoulder or called at home to tell them that they had been laid off. The company is going through a...

A Greater Economic Crisis

Now that the sky has fallen on the U.S. economy, and terms like bailout, foreclosure, and recession have become a normal part of our everyday reality, it's important for the United States to do some serious self-reflection. Based on the...